Distance instrument



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. T. UNGE.

DISTANGB INSTRUMENT.

No. 425,838. Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. T. UNGB. DISTANCE INSTRUMENT.

Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

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(No-Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W.. T. UNGE. DISTANCE INSTRUMENT.

lNo. 425,838. Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

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W. T. UNGE. DISTANCE INSTRUMENT.

No. 425,838. Petented Apr. 15, 1890.

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5 Sheet-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

W. T. UN GB. DISTANCE: INSTRUMENT.

No. 425,838. Patented Apr. 1,5. 1890.

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. Application iiled June 21,1887. Serial No. 242,022.

March 9,1887, No. 76,681; in Italy March 9, 1887, XLII, y805; in France March 9,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FILHELM T. UNGE, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

DISTANCE-INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,838, dated April 15, 1890.

(No model.) Patented in Sweden February 22, 1887, No. 1,506; in Belgium 1887, No. 182,078; in Germany March 23,

1887, No. 41,724; in England March 29, 1887, No. 4,710; in Norway April 4, 1887, No. 551, and in Austria-Hungary September 15, 1887, No. 11,248 and No. 44,207.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, WILHELM T. UN GE, a subject of the King of Sweden, and a resident of Stockholm, Sweden, have invented 1mprovements in Apparatus for Measuring Distances, (for which 1 have obtained Letters Patent in Belgium, No. 7 6,681, of March 9, 1887, granted March 31, 1887; Italy, No. 805, of March 9, 1887, granted May 3, 1887 France, No. 182,078, of March 9, 1887, granted August 1, 1887; Austria-Hungary, No. 11,248 and No. 44,207, of September 15, 1887; Germany, No. 41,724, of March 28, 1887 granted September 29, 1887; Norway, No. 551, of April 4, 1887, granted October 2G, 1887; Great Britain, No. 4,710, of March 29, 1887 granted February 10, 1888; Sweden, No. 1,506, of February 22,1887, granted August 23, 1888,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to an instrument for determining and measuring distances, and is particularly designed for military purposes. The measurements are taken'by observations made with the same instrument from two stations situated comparatively close to each other.

The method of measuring is founded on the supposition that for an object at a great distance the distance sought can be considered equal to 'the length of the hypotenuse or else to the eathetus of the right-angled triangle, which is supposed to be constructed on the connecting-line drawn between the points of observation as a base, and with the opposite angle as large as the acute angle a, which is formed between lines drawn from the two stations to the mark or object. This condition is assumed to be true, provided the object does not lie far from a line drawn from either of the points of observation at right angles to their connecting-line. The distance of a place or mark thus situated is thus determined either to be equal to the product of the length of the' base and the inverted or reciprocal value of the sine for the above-mentioned acute angle (D: B or else the product sine a of the length of the base and the cotangent of the same angle (Dr-B cotangent a.)

The measurement is taken by first placing the instrument on the one station and a graduated tablet on the other station and observing the distant object'and thetablet. The relative positions of the instrument and the tablet are then changed and again the object and the tablet are observed. These observations give two numbers or factors by direct readings, of which the one, the so-oalled base-factor, is proportional to the arbitrarily-chosen distance between the stations, and the other, the so-called angle-factor,.is proportional to the inverted value of the sine of the angle,or, if preferred, to the cotangent of the same angle between the imaginary lines drawn from the points of observation to the mark. The product of these factors gives the distance sought.

In the event of the space separating two objects at a distance being required to be determined the distance-measurer or telemeter is provided with a complementary apparatus consisting of two graduated arms movable round a common axis to be connected with the telemeter in such a way that this axis coincides with the center of the pivot round which the frame of the telemeter revolves, and that the arms can be pointed at the two distant objects respectively and left in those positions. After having determined the distances to the two objects from the station, and these distances being measured out on the two arms respectively, the distance between the two points thus marked out on the arms gives the distance sought.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the instrument in elevation, partly in section; Fig. 2, the same in plan, the telescope, however, being turned to the side; and Fig. 3 gives a front end view. Fig-.4 is a section of the telescope along the line 4 4 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows one side of the tablet; Fig. 6, the same from the end. Fig. 7 shows a stand partly closed, and Fig. 8 the upper part of the stand seen from above, Figs. 5, G, 7, and 8 being drawn on a reduced scale. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of the manner in which the angle-telescope is set up, and Fig. 10 represents the visual field of the angle-telescope when directed to a tablet. Figs. 11 and l2 show in side elevation and plan the contrivance to be fastened to the instrument when it is necessary to ascertain the space between two points at a distance from the places from whence the observations are taken.

The instrument consists of a telescope a and an angle-telescope b, which can be turned round its longitudinal axis, the former capable of being displaced in relation to the latter and placed one above the other in a common frame, which can be turned round a vertical support. As a suitable support, a conical pivot A is used, adjustably fixed to a stand, on which pivot the above-mentioned tablet can also be set up.

The frame of the instrument consists of two end pieces c and d, connected by a tubular piece e. The hinder end piece d has a projecting part d', which is furnished with conical holes, inside which there is a conical socket f, round which it can be turned. The socket f is itself made to fit onto the stand pivot A, or to some corresponding support. An arm p is fixed to the socket f abovethe projecting part d of the end piece d. This arm 19, which passes through openings in the end pieces c and d, carries at its end a ,nut q for a screw r, which by a ball-'andsocket joint s is connected with two pieces t t', fixed on the foremost end piece c. By turning this screw fr the whole frame can thus ,be made to revolve round the socket f.

The telescope a is provided with an ordinary cross-hair. This crosshair can be fixed in the telescope; but in order to make the nice adjustment more easy it is attached to a frame which can be moved to either side byturning a screw u. (Vide Fig. 4.)

Inside the tubular part e is theangle-telescope b, which consists of a common telescope and a glass v placed before the objective, or,

if preferred, a prism. This angle-telescope can be revolved round its longitudinal axis in conical holes made in the end pieces c and d.

vThe tablet,lFigs. 5 and 6, is provided with a conical socket y, which its the stand-pivot A to adjust the instrument. On this tablet there is a point S, the so-called directingpont, marked at a distance from the central line of the socket y as great as the distance between the central line of the socket f of the instrument and the point of intersection T (vide Figs. 1 and 0) between the reiiecting surface and the axis of revolution of the angle-telescope b. Right above this directingpoint S there is a vertical line S', the so-called line of angles, and at the side of the directing-point a scalez e', the so-called base-scale, of which `more will be said hereinafter. The tablet is made alike on both sides.

In the focus of the angle-telescope there is a plate of glass cc', Fig. l, on which a vertical line o o :is drawn, Figs. 9 and 10, the so-called zero line. 'lhis line is so placed thatif two stands are set up and a tablet is placed on the one at right angles to the line of the stands the .instrument put on the other, and the angle-telescope of the instrument is directed so that the image of the directing-point of the tablet falls on the zero-line of the an gle-telescope, and afterward the respective places of the instrument and the tablet being changed, and the tablet directed rectangularly to the line of the stands,and the angletelescoperotated one hundred and eighty degrees, and then directed so that the image of the directing-point again falls on the zeroline, the result will'be that the axis of revolution of the angle-telescope becomes parallel to the position it had 011 the former stand. If 'while the instrument is set up at the first station, and whilethe directing-point of the tablet on the second station is covered by the zero-line in the angle-telescope b, the cross-hair of th'e telescope a is direct-ed to a vdistant mark, and the telescope a. fixed in this position to the common frame, and the whole instrument afterward (the angle telescopebeing revolved one hundred and eighty degrees round its longitudinal axis) moved `to the stand of the second station and a tablet placed on the stand at station No. l, and then the whole instrument is turned round on the pivot of the stand until the image of the directing-point of the tablet at the lirst station fallsv again on the zero-line of the angle-telescope, then the position of the telescope a is parallel to the position which was held by thetelescope a when the instrument was at the Iirst station. If from this position the whole instrument is now turned on the, pivot of the stand until the image of the mark again falls on the cross-hair in the telescope a, this last revolution of the instrument embraces as large an angle a as the angle between the lines of directionfrom the two stations to the mark. The value of this angle can be obtained in many ways. In my instrument there is a scale, the so-called scale of angles, on the glass plate min the 4focus of the angle-telescope b, the divisional lines of which are parallel to the zero-line o of the angle-telescope which also passes through the point of zero of the scale.

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During the lastmentioned revolution of the l instrument, in order to direct the cross-hair ofthe telescope a, to the obj ect chosen for aim, the image of the directing-point of the tablet, previously coinciding with Ithe zero-line of the angle-telescope, moves from the zero-line along the scale and stops `at a certain point Where the image of the line of angles S then intersects said scale. By reading the point last mentioned (where the scale is intersected by the image ofthe line of angles) the value of thevangle a. is obtained. As, however, the

distance is to be calculated from a formula, `in which 1 is included, it is an advantage sine a,

to use a `scale on the glass in the focusof the angle telescope which directly gives this value. If the magnitude of this scale is arbi` unit of length of the scale. I

Another mode of obtaining this last-named value is to insert the scale of angles in the focus of the upper telescope a, and in such a manner that the zero-line of the scale coincides with the vertical hair in said telescope, and that the divisions fall along the horizontal hair of the cross-hair. l

If the telescope a, removed to the other station, is given a position parallel to the position it had'on the first station when directed on the distant object, as above described, the image of the mark will of course, at the second station, fall to the side of the zero-line of the scale, and if the scale of angles is placed toward this last-named side the image of the mark will thus fall on that point on the scale which shall be read for getting the value K 1 or K cotangent a.

sine a.

In order to obtain the necessary proportional value B (hereinafter explained) to the real length of the base-line, a line B B, (mdc Fig. 10,) parallel to the Zero-line has been inscribed on the plate of glass in the focal plane of the angle-telescope. This line B B has its place I on the other side ot the zero-line comparatively to the scale of angles and at an arbitrary distance trom the Zero-line. It the zeroline of the angle-telescope is directed to the directing-point of the tablet on the other station, the line B B will fall somewhere on the scale ,e z, we have before mentioned, on the aforesaid tablet, and by dividing this scale experimentally into equal parts the real value of the distance between the stations can be read on the scale. As, however, the so-called scale of angles does not give the value ot 1 but this value, multiplied by a consine a stant K, which depends on the construction of the angle-telescope, the base-scale should not give the real distance between the stations, viz: B in the formula DIB 1 sine a but avalue B This value B ,which can be "i K easily obtained by experiment, is the reading of the base-scale on the tablet, and is called the base-factor, while the value K 1 Y sine a is the reading of the scale ot angles in the angle-telescope, and is called the angle-factor. By multiplying these two factors the value sought (Dr-B K 1 K sine ct To make the telemeter or distance-measurer more suitable for military purposes, two portable supports or stands exactly like each other are specially constructed.

A, Figs. 7 and 8, is an upright adjustable pivot connected by a ball-and-socket joint, which by friction is kept in the position desired for the pivot, to the head of the stand H, which is supported by three legs breast high xed to the head by hinges. Each leg has a joint L about half-way up. part of the leg is double, so that the lower part can be let down into the upper when it is turned round the pivot ofthe joint. By the stoppers R or other similar arrangement the legs are kept straight when resting on the ground. The head of the stand is so constructed that after being doubled up the legs can be turned upward, as seen in Fig. 7, and thus form a protection surrounding the pivot and its fastenings like a case.

The distance-measurer or telemeter is used in the following manner: The instrument for observation is set up on a stand at station No. 1 and the tablet on another stand at station No. 2. The upper edge of the tablet, as also the instrument, receives, according to eye-measure, a horizontal position by the movability of the pivot. The place of the stand No. 2 ought to be chosen in such a manner that the connecting-line between No. 1 and No. 2 is as nearly at right angles to the line of direction 'from No. 1 to the distant object as' the ground allows ot. lVith the assistance of the adjusting-screw o the whole instrument is so directed that the zero-line o o of the scale of angles intersects the ldirecting-point S, Fig. 10. The point of intersection of the line BB with the base-scale denotes the base-factor, of which a note is made. The nut a is now loosened and the telescope a turned so that the distant object or mark becomes visible in the telescope. The nut n is then screwed home, and bymeans of the screw u the vertical line of the cross-hair of the telescope is now directed to cover thek mark. The imageof the direction-point is thus covered by the zero-line ot' the angletelescope, as also that of the mark by the cross-hair of the telescope. The instrument is now moved to stand N o. 2 and the tablet to No. 1, where the tablet by means of its line of angles is directed to stand No. 2. The angle-telescope is turned round its longitudinal axis about one hundred and eighty degrecs, so that the tablet on stand No. 1 becomes visible, after which the whole instrument is revolved round the stand-pivot A, so that the mark is seen in the telescope a.' By the aid of the adj usting-screw Tof the instrument the telescope a is afterwardv carefully directed, so that the vertical line of the crosshair falls on the mark in the same manneras when directed from stand No. 1. This being done, observations are made by the angletelescope as to where the image S of the line of angles intersects the scale of angle. The division of the scale read then forms the angle-factor. The base and angle factors are then multiplied when the product gives the distance.

The upper IOC IOS

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To ascertain the distance between two distant points visible from the place of observation, that apparatus is used which is shown in Figs. 11 and 12. It consists of two arms, each separately movable round a common axis, and can be applied to the instrument in such a Inanner that the axis of rotation of the arms coincide with the axis of revolution of the frame of the instrument. For this purpose the one arm C is iixed to a cylindrical socket D, which by friction can be pushed down into a hole A, bored in the middle of the stand-pivot A. In the projecting part df of the frame of the instrument a pin d" is fixed, and the arms C C have each a part G G going downward and so situated that when the arms are laid together, so that the parts G G are on each side of the pin d and touch it, the inner sides of the arms are on the same vertical plane above and close to each other. The inner edges of the arms are divided into equal parts from their axis of motion, each answering, for instance, to one hundred meters.

When the distance between' two objects or marks which are visible, but at a distance from the stations of observation, is to be measured, the distance from the station to the two marks must iirst be ascertained--for instance, with the telemeter or distance-measurer, as before described-and afterward the socket D of the arms is placed in the pivot-hole A', so that the parts G G' are on each side of the pin d". The whole frame of the instrument is then revolved, so that the cross-hair of the tele- Scope a, falls on the mark to the right or on that one of the marks which is so situated that the pin d" moves with it the arm C, iixed to the socket D, and the arm C also turns.

The Whole frame of the instrument is then revolved in the other direction until the crosshair of the telescope a is on the second mark. In consequence of the friction of the socket D in the hole A the arm C is retained and the arm C is moved by the pin d. If the known distances to the marks are now marked on the respective arms, counting from the point of revolution, and these points of the arms are connected, it is only necessary to measure this connecting-line with the same measure as that with which the arms are divided to know the distance sought between the two distant marks.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of an observation-in strument and an an gle-telescope with a frame by which the two are adjnstably connected with each other. the angle telescope being capable of revolution on its longitudinal axis" and having in its focal plane a zero-line parallel to the plane of `reflection of the angletelescope, all substantially as described.

2. An observation instrument, an angle, telescope, and a frame by which the two are adj ustably connected with each other, the angle-telescope being capable of revolution on its longitudinal axis and having in its focal plane a zero-line parallel to the plane of reflection of the angle-telescope, in combination with a tablet having on each side a directingpoint and supports on which the tablet and frame of the telescope can be interchangeably mounted, all -substantially as described.

3. An observation instrument, an angletelescope, and a frame by which the two are adj ustably connected with each other, the angie-telescope having in its focal plane a zeroline and a scale of angles proportionately divided from the zero-line, in combination with a tablet and support-s on which the latter and the aforesaid frame may be interchangeably mounted, the tablet having on each side a directing-point and a line passing through the point, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A11 observation instrument, an angletelescope, and a frame by which the two are adj ustably connected with each other, the angle-telescope having in its focal plane a zeroline with a scale of angles on one side and a base-line on the other, in combination witha tablet and supports on which the latter and the aforesaid frame may be interchangeably mounted, the tablet havin'g on each side a dij recting-point and a line of angle and a basescale extending from the zero-line, all substantially as described.

5. An observationinstrument, an angle telescope, and a frame by which the two are adj ustably connected with each other, in combination with a support on which the frame is mounted and free to turn, and apair of gradn ated arms, each free to turn on the same center as the center of the rotation of the frame, the latter having a projection to act on the4 said arms, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILHELM T. UN GE.

lVitnesses:

CARL STROMAN,

lllajor. LARs TENGSTEN,

Lieutenant..

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